MWC 2013: Hands-on with the Sony Xperia Tablet Z

While Mobile World Congress isn’t in short supply of tablets this year, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z certainly has our attention. We got some time to play around with Sony’s latest tablet addition and you can find our first impressions of the device below. Is this your next tablet? It just might be.

The Tablet Z retains the same design aesthetic of the Xperia Z smartphone, which we have absolutely not complaints about. Even with the knowledge of how thin and light the tablet is, picking up the Tablet Z still comes as a treat. The weight of the tablet makes it a joy to hold, and the soft touch finish adds to the overall premium feel. It’s impressive that Sony didn’t need to use metals of any kind to achieve this.

Another thing we really like about the Tablet Z is that Sony didn’t tray away from hard edges, and you’ll find the devices is nothing but a sharp looking device. No beveled edged to make it look like a bar of soap. Just simple and to the point.

The top of the tablet is relatively clean, and you’ll find only the IR sensor, which allows you to use the tablet as a remote control to your television. This is best showcased in Sony’s dedicated application, in which you can simply fling the show you want to watch on the screen to your TV to go to the show. On the left side is where you’ll find a small tab that hides the 3.5mm headphone jack, the new power/lock button that’s identical to that of the Xperia Z, volume rocker, connections for an optional dock, and a speaker. The roght side is clean, and on the bottom of the tablet is where you’ll find the microSD card slot (also hidden by a tab), and more speaker grills.

While Sony didn’t put them on the front, it was still smart in how it implemented the speakers on the Tablet Z. Two speakers are found on the bottom corners of the device, but you’ll find two grills for each of them. This will allow for sound to come through nicely no matter what way you’re holding it. Simple and smart.

There’s a lot to like about the Tablet Z, and Sony may have just completely sold me on the 10 inch tablet. Thin, light, powerful, and beautiful, the Tablet Z is officially on my list of tech to buy.